Transmission



July 21, 1931. I A. A. WIEDMAlr-:R 1,815,689

TRANSMISSION Filed Nov. 23. 1929' INVENTOR.

WWA/f @WW ATTO EY.

Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED -shams PATENT oFFlcE ARTHUR A. WIEDCMAIER, F CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WIEDMAIER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, A CGRPORATION OF OHIO i TRANSMISSION Application filed November 23, 1929. Serial N0. 409,39'1.

This invention relates to transmissionsJand particularly to transmissions comprising arrangements of gearing adapted to be disposed within the rear axle of an automobile.

vOne of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved variable speed gearing for automobile rear axles.

Another object of this invention is to pro-y vide what iscommonly known in the trade" as an over drive mechanismadapted to be disposed within the rear axle of an automobile for the purpose of effecting a change of gear ratio between the driving and driven ele. ments of the rear axle.

Another object isto provide an improved Variable speed gearing for automobile rear axles, by which the rear wheels of the vehicle may' be optionally driven at a higher rate of speed relative to the rate of rotation of the propeller shaft transmitting power from the engine to the rear axle.

v Another object is'to provide a dierential gearing mechanism for the'rear axle of an automobile and comprising the usual ring gear, spider, pinions and differential bevel ears, whereby the rear wheels of the automoi ile may normally be driven at the rotational velocity of the ring gear and comprising alsol an improved planetary gear system by which the rear wheels of the automobile may, optionally, be driven at a higher rotational velocity than that of the ring gear.

Another object is to provide a differential gear mechanism of the classy described in which the force reactions developed in use will be efficiently absorbed in suitably disposed bearings and the parts of which may be associated together in any eiiciently operating durable structure. l .A

Other objects of my invention and the'invention itself will become apparentby reference to the following description of an embodiment of my invention and in which description reference may be had tothe drawings illustrating the said embodiment.

In the drawings: t

Fig. 1- is an approximately horizontal crossesectional view of an embodiment of my invention )taken approximately along-"the by bolts or otherwise to a steel axle housinghaving right and left axle portions 2 2 of the usual or any preferred construction. Tlhe rear of the housing is closed by a cover p ate 3. j X

VThe housing 1 has coaxial bores 4-4 in which are seated outer roller bearing races 5 5 on which run roller bearings 6 6, preferably' of the tapered 4type and coacting with inner races 7 7. The outer races' 5 are adjustably positioned by screw-threaded retaining means 8 and 9 screw-threaded into the outer ends of the bores 4 4.

At 10 is a planet gear carrier havingl a tubular portion 11, the outer cylindrical surface of which vis supported in one of the inner races 7 and having a radially extending flange portion 12 terminating outwardly in an inwardly axially off-set ange 13. Bolted to the olf-set flange 13 by bolts 14 is the iange 15 of a gear housing 16 generally of cup form, the wallv of which extends generally axially and the bottom of the cup having an outwardly .directed tubular' portion 17, the outer cylindrical surface of which is supported in the other inner race 7 above referred to. The pinion gear carrier 10 and the gear housing 16 joined by the bolts 14 thus form a rigid enclosing and supporting housing forpurposes to be described, and mounted for rotation lon the ball bearings 6 6 s scribed and are screw-threaded intothe an- "nular body of a ring gear 20 which is `thus ings indicated at parts, not shown,

rigidly secured to the housing 10-16 andmay rotatively drive it from its meshed relation to a pinion 21 rotating in suitable bear- 22-22 and connected by to the propeller shaft of the automobile. Y

The flange portion 12 of the planet gear carrier 10 is provided with a plurality, such as three, equally spaced bored bosses 23, in vthe bores of which are press-fitted reduced vportions of risers 24 formed on a disk-like base or support 25; and alternating with the risers 24 are hollow pinion bushing bearings 26, one. end of each bearing 26 having a reduced portion or neck 27 riveted or pressfitted into a corresponding. perforation in the support 25 and the other end similarly secured to the flange portion12.

Upon the bearings 26 are rotatably mountl ed planet gears 28 having hub portions abutting upon the oppositeor, confronting faces of the flange portion 12 and base 25. The risers 24 thus serve to rigidly secure the base 25 to the flange portion 12 in spaced relation tioned serve as a mounting for the planet gears 28, whereby the gears 28 have a rotary The base or support 25-has an inwardly directed hollow cylindrical flange 29 into the inner cylindrical wall of which extends the hub 30 of one of the differential bevel gears 31, which gear is secured as by splines 32 to the axle shaft 19, referred to above.

The so-called differential spider indicatedgenerally at 33 has mounted therein a bearing pin 34 extending transversely with respect to the axle axis and l-has rotatably mounted thereon a pair of differential pinions 35 and 36 meshed' with the differential bevel gear 31, above referred to, and also with the other differential bevel gear 37.

The differential spider 33 has a transverse portion 38 formed to havean axially directed hollow cylindrical flange 39, into the vinner cylindrical portion' of which extends the hub 40 of the differential bevel gear 37. They outer cylindrical surface of the flange 40 engages the inner cylindrical surface of the fiange 17 of the gear housing, hereinbefore described. The hub 40of the dierential bevel gear 37 is securedas by splines 48 to the axle shaft 18, above referred to. The transverse portion 38 abuts between the housing 16 and bevel gear 37- at .41' and 42, respectively. 1/

.The spider,33 also has a transverse portion 43 through an' axial bore vof whichthe hub 30 of the differential bevel gear'31.extends and the flange portion 43 abuts against the base 2,5 and bevel gear'31 at 44and45,-re spectivelyl The spider 33 also has a enerally axially *i extending cup shaped portion 46 internally therefrom and the base and flange thus posi.

bearing connection upon the Bange portion' the outer cylindrical surface of the flange 29.

extends; and the sun gear hasan axially extending hollow tubular body portion 51, the

internal bore of which surrounds the shaft 19 and the external cylindrical surface of which enters the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular port-ion 11 of the lplanet gear carrier, above described. The outer end of the tubular portion 51' is splined, as at 52, upon which is axially reciprocable a clutch shifter 53, having an annular groove 54 into which suitable radially directed trunnions may project to shift the shifter axially.

The shifter 53 on its inner end is provided with a plurality of externally directed teeth 55 which, upon movement of the shifter to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, may engage corresponding inwardly radially directedteeth 56 in the retainer 9, which' is rigidly secured to the housing 1; and the teeth 55, when the shifter 53 is shifted to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, may alternatively engage axially directed teeth 57 on the end of the tubular portion 11, above described.

The means for shifting longitudinally the shifter 53 is not shown for the sake of simplicity herein andl is not deemed necessary, inasmuchas thel means for shifting a clutch device by means of a groove or track, such as that 'shown at 54, is well understood `in the art. `I prefer to provide means whereby the shifter 53 may be shifted by the driver of the automobile from thefseat.

It, will be observed that in the gearing mechanism, above described, there is provided what may be called a planetary gearing system comprising the sun gear 49, the

plurality of planet gears 28 meshed therewith, andthe orbit gear 47 meshed'with the planet gears. Jalso, there is provided clutch means operated by the shifter 53 by which the sun gear 49 may be optionally and alternately rigidly locked either to the ring gear 20 or to the stationary frame or housing of thedifferential mechanism through the retainer 9.

In the operation of-my invention, the shifter 53 is normally shifted to the right hand position, as viewed in Fig. 1, above referred to. In th1s position, the mechanism as a lar portion 51 .of the sun gearf l y v l in this respect no tionary housing 1.

\ to it rotates with it and the planet gears 28 meshed with the sun gear 49 therefore have o no movement on their bearings 26 and thereforethe orbit gear 47 meshed with the planet gears also rotates bodily with the sun gear and therefore bodily with the ring gear. Thus, the planetary system functions to 15 transmitpower from the ring gear 2O to the spider \33 at unitary velocity ratio, that is the sp' er 33 having the same rotational velocity as if it were connected directly to the ring gear 20.

The rotation of the spider 30 causes it to transmit power to the axle shafts 18 and 19 through the differential pinions 35 and 36 and diiferential bevel gears 31 and 37 similar to the manner of the usual diiferential gearing of an automobile rear axle. Upon those' occasions when one bevel gear 31 or 37 rotates relative to the other, the said differential bevel gears have rotary bearing support` by means of their hubs and 40, respecso tively, above described.

The bevel gears 31 and 37 are retainedinwardly to maintain the teeth thereof in mesh with the teethof the differential pinions 35 and 36 bytheir abutting engagement at the 85 surfaces 45 and 42 above described, and the spider 33 is also prevented from shifting axially by the abutting surfaces 44 and 41,

` above described.

The operation thus far described refers to the ordinary vor general differential functions of the mechanism when the running speeds of the automobile are those within the range possible with the regularly used transmission gears ordinarilyl disposed' between the' en- 45 gine and the propeller shaft, which-is conn nected to the driving pinion 21 .By the employment of my invention, asv will no w described, the velocity ratio of transmission between the ring gear 20 and xle shafts- 18 and 19 may beincreased, that is, theshafts 18 and 19 may be over-driven to cause them to rotate at higher speeds, and

my invention operates as follows: j

On shifting the shifter 53 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1, the teeth 55 are disengaged from the teeth 57 and engaged with the teeth 56,v which, as above stated, are on *the retainer 9 rigidly connected to the sta- This connects the sun gear 49'through the splines 52 and shifter 53 and teeth 55-56, to the housing 1 and prevents its further rotation. Now, ,the rotation of the ring gear 20 and thepvlanetgear B5 carrier 10 carries the planet gears 28 around the ystationary sun gear 49 with which their i teeth are inwardly meshed, causing them to rotate on their bearings 26 and causing them to in turn revolve the orbit gear 47 with whichtheir teeth are outwardly meshed, and as will be understood from the functions of a planetary system of this kind, the orbit gear 47 and spider 33 to which it is connected will' rotate at a higher velocity than the ring gear 20. The rotation of the spider 33 will cause it' to function through the differential pinions and bevel gears above described, as before, but at 'the new higher velocity.

During the transmission of power from the ring gear and from the planet gear carrier 10 to the planet gears 28, the rigid connection of the support 25 to the planet gear carrier 10 by means of the risers 24 provides a rigid support for the bearings 26 of the planet gears 28, whereby they are maintained in axial alignment.

It will also be observed from the foregoing construction that the sun gear 49 is maintained in its axially disposed position between` the planet gear carrier 10 and the base 25.

Again, by the foregoing construction the differential pinions and bevel gears are maintained in their correct axial positions be'- tween the ianges 43 and 38 of the spider 33 and that all of the parts of the gearing mechanism are maintained in their axially disposed operative positions betweerr the planet gear carrier 10 and the gear housing 16.

The bevel gear 37 and the spider 33 at the right end of the mechanism, as viewed 1n Fig. 1, are supported substantially dlrectlyA by the bearings 6. The bevel gear 31, however, and the left hand portion of the spider 33 are relatively remote from the other bearing 6 and to support them and in turn to support the orbit gear 47 and maintam the Vsaid parts in alignment, the hollow cylindrical ang'e on the base 25 serves asa supporting bearing, supporting directly the bevel gear 3 1 by means of its hub 30 and thereby supporting the spider through its flange 43; and the flange 29 isin turn supported by the base 25 which is rigidly securedto the iiange 12 by the risers 24.' Thus, the supporting effect of the left hand bearing 6 is transmitted by an unyielding structure to the bevel gear 31 and spider 33. l x It will, therefore, be seen Athat the pro- 'visio'n of the base -25 and its rigid connection to the ange 12 serves'not merely as vone of the bearing supports'for lthe planet gears 28, but serves as a central bearing support for substantially the entire mechanism within the housing 16 to prevent the same from sagging or shifting out of axial alignment. l

The subjectv matter'of this application is in part a continuation of the subject matter time it is the more common practice to drive vehicles 'such as automobiles through the rear axle. It will, of course, however, be understood that my, invention is applicable with all of its advantagesto a vehicle driven through the front axle and to any class or type of power transmission in which two shafts or axles are driven di'erentially.v

Furthermore, while I have shown` and described my invention as employed in connection witha pinion and -ring gear type of drive, it will Abe understood by those skilled in this art that my invention is equally applicable to those types of drive in which a worm and worm gear are employed.

I claim: 1. In an axle driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair of axle sections to be driven, a diil'erential gear mechanism interposed between and adapted to diierentially drive the sections, means for transmitting `power to the differential mechanism, said means comprising 'an orbit gear .connected tothe differential mechanism, a plurality of planet gears'meshed therewith, a sun gear disposed within the planet gears and meshed there- Y"-rwith, a ring gear, a driving pinion meshed necting the base with the ring gear and a mounting for the planet gears associated with the ring gear, said mounting including an annular support for the ring gear, an annular base, the base being rigidlyA connected to the support in parallel spaced relation therefrom by a plurality of risersconnecting them and a plurality of planet gear bearing elements conand annular support, the said base beiig disposed between the planet gears and the gears of the differential mechamsm.

2. In an axle driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair of axle sections to be driven, a differential gear mechanism interposed between and adapted to diierentially drive the sections, means for transmitting power to the differential mechanism, said means comprising an orbit gear connected to the differential mechanism, a plurality of planet gears meshed therewith, a sun gear disposed within the planet gear and meshed therewith a ring gear, a driving'pinion meshed with the ring gear and a mounting for the planet gears associated with the ring gear, said mounting including a driven element connected to the ring gear 'disposed transversely gear in spaced relation around the said axis, the" said base element being disposed between the planet gears and the gears of the diierential mechanism. Y

3. In a driving mechanism forxmotor vehicles, a pair of axle sections adapted to be driven, a differential gear mechanism interposed between and adapted to dierentially l -drive the sectlons, said differential gearing mechanism including a gear on each axle section, an intermediate gear meshed with both of saidl gears and a spider rotatable on an axis substantially parallel to said axle sections and rotatably supporting said intermediate gear, an orbit gear connected to the spider and rotatable therewith,l a set of planet v gears meshed with said.orbit gear and disposed around the rotational axis of the spider, a sun gear disposed within the planet and meshed therewith, a ring gear rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the spider axis, a bearing mounting for the planet gears whereby they may move bodily with the ring gear, said mounting including a driven element connected to the ring gear disposed transversely of its rotational axis, a Ybase element in substantially parallel spaced relation thereto, a plurality of spacers disposed` around the said axis and rigidly joining the driven element and base element and a plurality of planet gear bearing elements extending fromthe driven element to the base element and in spaced relation around the said axis, the said base element being disposed between the planet gears and thegears of the differential mechanism.

4.- In an axle driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair of axle sections adapted to be driven, a diiiierential gear mechanism interposed between andadapted to dierentially drive the sections, said differential gearing mechanism including a gear on each axle section, an intermediate gear meshed with both of said gears and a spider rotatable on an axis substantially parallel to said axle'sections and rotatably supporting said intermediate gear, a housing surrounding and supporting the dili'erential mechanism, a pair of bearings for the housing at opposite axial endsthereof, a transverse base in the housing rigidly secured in spaced relation to one axial end ofthe housing, and a bearing in the base for supporting one of the said axle gears.-

5. In an axle driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair of axle sections adapted to be driven, a diii'erential gear mechanism interposed between and adapted to dierentially drive the sections, said differential gearing mechanism including a gear on each axle section, an intermediate gear meshed with both of said gears and a spider rotatable on an axis substantially parallel to said axle ,sections and rotatably supporting said intermediate gear, a bearing connection between each axle gear and the spider, a housing for the mechanism, a pair of rotational bearings supporting the housing at. the opposite axial ends thereof, a base rigidly connected' in spaced relation to the housing internally, thereof and adjacent one axial end thereof,

a bearing in the base for supporting one of the' axial gears and thereby supporting the spider at the point of its bearing connection with said gear. A

6. In an axle driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair of axle sections adapted to be driven, a differential gear mechanism interposed between and adapted to differentially drive the sections, said differential gearing mechanism including a gear on each axle section, an. intermediate gear meshed with both of said gears and a spider rotatableI on an axis substantially parallel to said axle sections and rotatably supporting said inter-A mediate gear, a bearing connection between each axle gear and the Ispider, a housing for the mechanism, a pair of rotational bearings supportingthe housing at the opposite axial ends thereof, a base rigidly connected in spaced relation to the housing internally thereof and adjacent one axial end thereof, a bearing in the base for. supporting one of the axial gears and thereby supporting the spider` at the point of its bearing connection with said gear, a ring gearconnected to the Y `said housing, an orbit gear connected to said spider, a` plurality of planet ears meshed with the orbit gear and mounte on rotational bearings supported in said base and said end of the housing, and a sun gear disposed witliin theplanet gears and meshed there- Wit 7. Inan axle driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair of axle lsections to be driven, a differential gear mechanism interposed between and adapted to differentially drive the sections, means for transmitting power to the differential mechanism, saidmeans comprising anv orbit gear connected to the differential mechanism, a plurality of planet gears meshed therewith, a sun gear disposed within the-planet gear and -meshed therewith, a ring gear, a driving pinion meshed with the ring gear and a mounting for the v 'planet gears associated with the ring gear,

-said mounting including an annular support for the ring gear, an annular base, the base being rigidly connected to the support in parallel spaced relation therefrom by a plurality of risers connecting them `and a plurality of planet gears rotatably supported on the base and annular support, thesaid base being disposed between the plant gears and the gears of the differential mechanism.

8. In an axle drivingmechanism for motor ring gear, a driving pinion meshed with the j,

ring gear and a mounting for the planet gears .associated with the ring gear, said mountlng including a driven element con- 7 nected to the ring gear disposed transversely of its rotational axis, a base element in substantially parallel spaced relation thereto, a plurality of spacers disposed aroundthe said axis and rigidly joining the driven element and base element and a plurality of planet gears -rotatably supported on the driven element and the base element and in spaced relation around the said axis, the said base element being disposed between the planet gears and the gears of the differential mechanism. L

9. In an axle driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair of axle sections adapted to be driven, a differential gear mechanism interposed between and adapted to differentially drive the sections, said differential gearmg mechanism including a gear on each axle section, -an-intermediate gear meshed with -both of said gears and a spider rotatable on thereof and adjacent one axial end thereof, al

lill

bearing in the base for supporting one 'of l the axle gears, a ring gear connected to the said housm 'an orbit gear connected to sald spider, a p urality of planet gears meshed with the orbit gear and mounted onrotational bearin supported in said base and said end of t e housing, and a sun gear disposed withinjthe planet gears and meshed therewith.

10. In an axle driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair of axle sections adapted to be driven, a diferential gear mec nism interposed between and ada ted to with the orbit gear and mounted on rotational'bearings supported in said base and saidv'end of the housing, and a sun gear'distherewithf Y s 11. an 1axle` driving mechanism for motor vehicles, a pair'of axle sections adapte Alesv posed within' the planet gears and .meshed ed to. be driven, a differential gear mechanism interposed between and 'adapted to differentially driveithe sections, said diferentlal gearing mechanism including a gear on .eachl axlesection, an intermediate gear meshed with both of said gears and a spider rotatable Y sectlons and rotatably supportlng said inter-v mediate gear, a bearing connection between each axle gear and the spider, a housing for the mechanism, a pair of rotational bearings ends thereof, a base rigidily connected in spaced relation to the housing internally thereof and adjacent one axial end thereof,

. a ring gear connected to the said'housing, an

on an axis substantially parallel tofsaid axle supporting the housing at the'opposite axial tion between the orbit gear bearing and the I orbit gear disposed between said base and the differential gears, a plurality of planet gears meshed with the orbit gear'and mounted on rotational bearings supported in said lbase and said end ofthe housing, and a sun gear disposed within the planet gears and meshed therewith. 'l -j Inv testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature this /21st day of November, 1929.

ARTHUR A. WIEDMAIER.

orbit gear connected to said spider, a bearing forthe orbitl gear coaxial Withthe'spider, a support for the orbit gear connecting it with the said orbit gear bearing and disposed between said base and the 'differential gears, a 49 plurality of planet gears connected to the orbit gear and'mountedon rotational bearings supported in saidba'se and said end of the housing and a sun gear disposed within the planet gears and meshed therewith.

y 12. In an axle driving mechanism' for motor vehicles, a pair of axle sections adapted to driven, a diiferential gear mechanism interposed between and adapted to differentially drive the sections, said differ- ,5Q ential gear mechanism includ-ing a gear on each axle section, an intermediate gear meshed with both of said gears and a spider rotatable on an axis` substantially parallel to said axle sections and rotatably sup orting said 'intermediate gear, ahousingl or the` mechanism, a pair ofrotational bearings supportin the housing and the opposite axial. i ends t ereof, a base rigidly connectedy in.'

vspa'ced 'relation -to the housing internally 60 thereof and vadjacent'one axial end thereof,

a ring gear connected to the said housing, an orbit gear connected to: the spider, a bearing for -1 the base and av bearing for the orbit gear, both saidbe'arings being dis? posed coaxial with the spider,aconnc 

